Italian pizzazz on the water
Tenacious chef puts her health and the lockdown behind to open up on boardwalk
CHEF Vitalia Zanda has beaten cancer and now plans to fight off the COVID-19 gloom tomorrow by opening her Vitalia’s Italian Restaurant at The Pier Boardwalk in Cairns. Ms Zanda celebrates the move from Holloways Beach with pizza chef Gabriele Abate and restaurant manager Antonio Lo Conte.
TENACIOUS Cairns chef Vitalia Zanda has shrugged off both cancer and COVID-19 to reopen with a splash tomorrow, bringing a taste of Italy to one of the city’s premier dining destinations.
Vitalia’s Italian Restaurant will open on The Pier Boardwalk in a bold move during uncertain times that has been welcomed by fellow tenants, including her competition.
“I’m very happy,” said Ms Zanda, who has spent the coronavirus lockdown cooking up new ideas after moving from Holloways Beach into the city’s dining dress circle overlooking Trinity Inlet.
Originally due to open in April, the lockdown dashed hopes of a smooth transition.
But Ms Zanda said she was ready to “knock down the wall” and get on with life after being diagnosed with cancer late last year, a blow she refused to take lying down.
Husband and restaurant manager Antonio Lo Conte said his wife was “happy, strong and keen to make their business even better”.
“It’s been really hard – an unbelievable year,” he said.
But a strong local following means the couple will open with plenty of customers, initially seating up to 31 in three lunch and three dinner sittings.
“Eventually, we will host about 70-80,” he said.
Their arrival at The Pier is just the tonic to help overcome the corona blues, say other tenants, including Piato chef and restaurateur Elie Sopas.
“I’m excited. It’s very nice and brings more traffic and a different cuisine. The more, the merrier,” said Mr Sopas, who reopened last week.
“Everyone’s looking forward to the locals coming and enjoying the views.”
He said the past few months had been tough because his three chefs did not qualify for any government assistance.
“They’ve been with me three years, paying their taxes and were only a couple of months away from residency.
“I wasn’t going to let them starve, so we renovated the kitchen, painted and scrubbed the place 400 times, so it’s like a new business and we’ve got a lovely new menu.”
Man Overboard owner Jane Koch said Vitalia’s was a welcome addition to The Pier retail and restaurant mix.
“Good on them. They’re very brave. They’ve suffered a few personal battles, but they have a good offering and will complement the others.”
She has faced her own battles after husband Rob Koch died in March, five days before the COVID lockdown.
“The landlord’s been amazing. Totally understanding and very supportive. Without that, frankly, none of us would be here,” Ms Koch said.
Centre manager Renee Johnston said everyone was excited about the opening of Vitalia’s with most stores, restaurants and bars now open.
She said the centre was keen to support its tenants.
“Without them, the shopping centre wouldn’t exist.”